Crispy Cauliflower Bites in a Sticky Apricot Glaze [Recipe]

Apricots, the cousins of peaches, plums, and cherries are one of the most underappreciated stone fruits. With a fruity, sweet flavor rounded out by a touch of tartness, apricots are a deliciously versatile ingredient that are certainly deserving of more attention. This delicious recipe for crispy cauliflower bites in a sticky apricot glaze is the perfect dish to showcase this wonderful ingredient.

The naturally tart flavor of apricots differentiates them slightly from their stone fruit peers and renders them equally useful in dishes both sweet and savory. Amazingly, apricots work just as well in salads, sauces, stews and rice dishes as they do in pies and tarts.

Most commonly, you’ll see apricots either dried or in the form of apricot preserve, but you can find fresh apricots in the summer with their season running from about May to August. With high stores of fiber as well as vitamins A and C, apricots are a great health food.


About this Crispy Baked Cauliflower Bites Recipe

Rating: 4.5/5Serves: 4 ServingsDifficulty: MediumApprox. Cost: $15.00
Prep Time: 10 MinutesCook Time: 30 MinutesTotal Time: 40 Minutes

This recipe for crispy baked cauliflower bites calls for using apricot preserves (or jam) to make the glaze, as theyre the easiest to find and are most readily available. However, if fresh apricots are in season, simply substitute four fresh pureed apricots in place of the preserves.

The glaze is packed with amazing contrasting flavors. It’s sweet and tart from the apricots, it has a wonderful tang from the apple cider vinegar and it gets a little kick from the cayenne pepper. This glaze is simple and easy and is also terrific as a dipping sauce for cream cheese and crackers or as a salad dressing.

With these crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside cauliflower bites, you won’t miss the chicken wings. To make these crispy bites of cauliflower, lightly coat them with a simple batter of cornstarch, flour, and water, seasoned with barbecue spices. Be sure to shake off any excess batter from the cauliflower and roast them on a cooling rack to ensure maximum crispiness before tossing them with the delicious, sticky apricot glaze.

Ingredients

  • 1 large head of cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • Cooking spray — as needed
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) apricot preserves or apricot jam
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) apple cider vinegar
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400ºF (205ºC). Line a baking pan with parchment paper and place a cooling rack on the paper. Spray the cooling rack with cooking spray to prevent the cauliflower from sticking.
  2. Whisk together the flour, cornstarch, water, salt, and spices together in a large bowl to form a thick batter. Toss the cauliflower florets into the batter to coat evenly. Allow any excess batter to drip off and line the florets on the cooling rack.
  3. Bake the cauliflower for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and crispy, flipping halfway through.
  4. Whisk together the preserves, honey, mustard, soy, cayenne and vinegar together in a bowl. Transfer to a pot and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until it reaches a sticky, syrupy consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper and keep warm.
  5. Remove the crispy cauliflower bites from the oven and toss with the sticky glaze in a large bowl. Serve immediately.

Image: Karolina Grabowska

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